Opposition Leader Malcolm Turnbull has urged his colleagues to unite behind him after a turbulent 24 hours for the Liberals which climaxed in the party's rejection of a move to hold a leadership spill.

The motion to hold a leadership ballot was brought on by backbencher Wilson Tuckey, but was voted down in the party room by 48 to 35 votes.

Mr Turnbull's leadership has been in dire trouble since he declared the Opposition would vote for the Government's amended emissions trading scheme (ETS) after a marathon day of meetings yesterday.

But after hanging onto his position today, Mr Turnbull told his colleagues it was time to focus on the Government.

"We recognise that we've had a tough process and these things can get a bit scratchy," he told Sky News.

"We had a very heated debate that had gone over some weeks, but the debate has been resolved now and what we've got to do is reunite, come together and move forward and hold the Government to account."

Earlier former Howard government frontbencher Kevin Andrews was the only person to say he would have run against Mr Turnbull in a spill.

Mr Andrews said he accepted the decision of the party room but said the troubles of the past 24 hours should send a warning to Mr Turnbull.

"I believe this sends a very clear message to the Liberal Party that there has been deep concern about the way things have occurred over the last few weeks," he said.

"I'm saying that my take out of the result ... is that there is a degree of concern on the part of many of my colleagues. I think there is a clear message out of that and I hope it's heeded all round."

Frontbenchers Christopher Pyne and Joe Hockey have rallied behind their leader, calling for the party to put recent events behind them.

Mr Pyne says his colleagues must stop bickering.

"This [ballot] allows the party to rule a line under this period," he told Sky News.

"The party room backed Malcolm Turnbull. He stands head and shoulders above every other potential candidate."

Mr Hockey says Mr Turnbull now has overwhelming support to press ahead and allow the ETS through.

"I say to the Australian people we are a progressive party, we are an honest party, we are made up of honest people who are not afraid to express a view," he said.

"This is about the Liberal Party's future [and] we have to move forward."

Crossing the floor

But Liberal Senator Cory Bernadi says he will be crossing the floor to vote against the ETS.

"I would rather have this bill deferred, particularly to a committee on the basis that we are making massive changes to what is already a massive bill," he told Sky News.

"This is a bad piece of policy. It has no place being enacted."

Asked whether he supported Mr Turnbull as leader he replied:"I'm a part of the party room, he enjoys the support of the party room."

And three of Mr Turnbull's frontbench senators have resigned from their position to also cross the floor.

In a joint-statement released today, Mitch Fifield, Brett Mason and Mathias Cormann said they could not support the ETS.

"We are opposed to the passage of Labor's emissions trading scheme prior to the United Nations Climate Change Conference in Copenhagen and before any similar action by our major trading partners," they said.

"Consequently, we are unable to support the Leader of the Opposition's decision to support the passage of these bills."

In Question Time this afternoon, Prime Minister Kevin Rudd showed his gratitude towards Mr Turnbull for deciding to support the ETS.

"I would thank the Leader of the Opposition and the Opposition for supporting this legislation and its passage through the Parliament," he said.

"We believe this is legislation in the Australian national interest and in the interest of our kids, our grandkids and the future economy."

You have no doubt been hearing a lot about the Paris Agreement and know that it pertains to climate change, but are too embarrassed at this stage to ask for an overall explanation of what it's all about.